PINEHURST, N.C. — With pigtails and plenty of giggles, Lucy Li just wants to have fun like any
11-year-old girl.

Except that she’s playing the biggest event in women’s golf.

Li, a sixth-grader from the Bay Area who doesn’t appear to be the least bit overwhelmed by the
attention around her, became the youngest qualifier in U.S. Women’s Open history when she shot a 68
at Half Moon Bay last month to win her sectional by seven shots.

She celebrated by having dinner at her favorite restaurant and watching
The Amazing Spider-Man 2.”

Michelle Wie didn’t make it to her first Women’s Open until she was 13.

“It’s a memory that will last her a lifetime,” Wie said. “What other 11-year-old can say that
they played in the U.S. Open at Pinehurst? ”

Life is moving at warp speed for little Lucy Li.

She only became serious about golf four years ago when she set up shop in Miami to work with Jim
McLean at his golf school. Just two months ago, the 11-year-old with a mouth full of braces won her
age division in the inaugural Drive, Chip and Putt Championship at Augusta National. And now she’s
at Pinehurst No. 2, ready to take on the course where Martin Kaymer won the U.S. Open on
Sunday.

“It’s awesome, right?” she said. “I mean, Pinehurst and Augusta National in like two months. I
mean, that’s just amazing. It’s mind-blowing for me. It’s been awesome, because it’s been … I mean,
the food is great and it’s been a lot of fun. I’ve made a lot of friends.”

There’s something about the U.S. Women’s Open in the North Carolina sandhills that attracts all
the kids.

Morgan Pressel qualified when she was 12 and had just turned 13 when the Women’s Open was held
down the street at Pine Needles in 2001 (Li wasn’t even born then). Lexi Thompson qualified and
played at 12 when it returned to Pine Needles in 2007.

Too young? Both went on to win major championships.

“If you’re good enough, you’re old enough — or young enough, whichever way you look at it,”
Laura Davies said. “If you can play the golf and you can qualify, then have a go. What’s the worst
that can happen? She shoots a million this week and everyone says, ‘Wasn’t it great she was here?’
So I don’t think anything bad can come out of it, because she’s too young to worry about the
pressure.

“She’s just having fun. She’s got a week off school. It’s perfect.”

Li looked like she was having a blast on a broiling day of practice yesterday. Then it was time
for a news conference, which drew the largest crowd of the day. Her pigtails in braids, held by
clips the shape of hearts, Li twirled in her chair waiting for it to start.

She giggled before just about every answer, including one about whether her father could beat
her.

She laughed. She laughed again. And then she moved closer to the microphone and said, “No.”

But the kid made one thing clear. She’s not out to prove anything. She's not out to make
history.

“The perfect week? I just want to go out there and have fun and play the best I can, and I
really don’t care about the outcome,” Li said. “I want to have fun and learn. I want to learn a lot
from these great players.”